Do you go to parks on arrival day?

[DisneyFave]

I love this idea of reserving the FP+s! I keep forgetting how things have changed! I can probably fit in 3 rides and a sundae at Sci Fi

 

[DisneyFive]

That's a pretty tight schedule if you try to hit a park and then be back to the resort by 7pm. In that case, I wouldn't use a ticket for that short amount of time. If you get in a 12:30, you'll probably have your bags by 1pm, but then you need to get to the park (if you have a rental car), or take magical express to AKL and then go to the park from there.

Then, set aside about 30 minutes to get from the park to OKW by 7pm, it's just not much time in the park. ...but if you're only there a few days, then it might be worth it!

We typically get into MCO between 10am and noon, take Magical Express to the resort, check in, drop off bags, rest for about 30 seconds in the room , and then get to a park by 3pm or so at the latest. However, we stay in the park until close so we have a good 6 hours of park time at least on that first day.

Dan

 

[davale4]

We like to enjoy the pool and then sometimes go to DTD. The only way I would got to a park on the same day would be if I had an AP. My cousin on her first day, after she got settled and did everything she had to do, she went to MK late at night just to get a coffee at Starbucks. She didn't hesitate because she has APs.

 

[DisneyFave]

These are awesome responses.

If I'm checking a bag (through the ME service) and bypass checkin to head straight to DHS (maybe I could even hop off the bus at the first resort, whichever that may be), how long would you schedule for me to get from MCO to AKL to DHS? This FP+ scheduling is tight!

 

[lam0037]

When we have AP, we go to the parks arrival day, even we would drive. It's about a 7 hour drive so even when we don't get to the hotel until 5 or 6, we just throw our stuff in the room and go, if only for a few rides and Wishes.

We have a package and driving for our December trip. We would go to MK, but it's MVMCP and aren't planning on going that night so a full day ticket for 2-3 hours isn't worth it for us. So, we have a 8 pm dinner at Narcoossee's and plan to settle in, check out the resort and then get ready for dinner.

 

[Frozen2014]

We debated this as well. Our flight arrives at 1:30pm, so guess by the time we get our luggage, rent our car, it will be mid afternoon when we arrive at DW. We have an Ohana ADR at 7pm. So we will only have a couple hours at MK, but we feel like we just have to start our vacation off at MK...even if just walkng around to get a feel for it. The cost to get another park day added on was only $10 per person so we went for it.
Enjoy your trip whatever you decide.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

We always do, it's part of the we are there feeling! We land in MCO at 9am and hope to be in MK after lunch

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I don't feel like my vacation has started until I go into the MK and see the castle. We go directly to MK, get CS lunch, CM's dinner and watch the parade and Wishes.

If we drive we stay with family 1-2 days before checking into our resort. That way we are very well rested and check in by 9 am.

When we fly we have also stayed with family the day before but next trip we are using ME and going straight to our resort. We always do a very early flight so we land at MCO around 9-10.

The kids just get so excited and antsy. By the time we hit the resort their minds are just going wild. They jump from "Let's go to MK" to "let's go to the pool" to "let's go to Epcot." But we know the drill. It's always MK and once I get them on a bus they are practically bouncing in their seats.

 

[DisneyFive]

These are awesome responses.

If I'm checking a bag (through the ME service) and bypass checkin to head straight to DHS (maybe I could even hop off the bus at the first resort, whichever that may be), how long would you schedule for me to get from MCO to AKL to DHS? This FP+ scheduling is tight!

It's good that you don't have to worry about your checked bag since you're using ME, however, (and I'm not positive about this) I think you have to take the ME that is going to your resort (in this case, AKL).

1) I'm not sure if you can take ME to a resort that isn't the one you're staying at
2) I'm not sure if there is ME straight to the parks.

We figure about 1.5 hours from our flight arrival time until we get to the resort via ME. Then you'll need about 30 minutes to get to a park from the resort.

Dan

 

[W.E.D.]

We always use arrival day to wander around our resort, check out the activities there, maybe grab a nap (we usually take the red-eye into Orlando). It's personal preference, but we like to let the pixie-dust slowly settle onto our shoulders. Then we're all fueled up for our first full day at the parks.

 

[Disney Dynamite]

We tend to go to DTD on arrival day. Our tradition is to have dinner, buy a Christmas tree ornament, and turn in early for the next day's rope drop.

Last year (for the first and last time), we decided it would be awesome to go to Epcot and have a nice dinner to celebrate our anniversary. Life did not go according to plan, and we ended up arriving at MCO several hours late with an ADR that was in 15 minutes. A very nice CM helped us switch to a late ADR at Via Napoli, and we spent maybe two hours in Epcot, including dinner. After that experience, it's DTD for us on the first day.

 

[marianthefox]

I always have on past trips with family. This time I'm going solo for the first time. I have an early flight out from Texas and plan on hitting EPCOT as soon as I can then heading over to HS after dinner. It just wouldn't seem right not spending time at a park on my first day.

 

[abmitch01]

I'm going to try to this year. It's our first time on property, we get in early. If our room isn't ready, I think we might go

 

[MouseOfGold]

Never, but I have lo's. If I was going solo or with an older crowd I would if I flew in early enough.

 

[heidijanesmith]

It's good that you don't have to worry about your checked bag since you're using ME, however, (and I'm not positive about this) I think you have to take the ME that is going to your resort (in this case, AKL).

1) I'm not sure if you can take ME to a resort that isn't the one you're staying at
2) I'm not sure if there is ME straight to the parks.

We figure about 1.5 hours from our flight arrival time until we get to the resort via ME. Then you'll need about 30 minutes to get to a park from the resort.

Dan

I think the above poster is right. You are supposed to take the ME bus to your resort as they do not go to parks.

If I were staying at AKL and needed to be back at AKL by 7PM, then I would go to AK and explore there. AK is the shortest bus ride from AKL (I think it took us 10 min max once the bus got there).

You could get a lot done at AK with FP+ before heading back to AKL.

Normally we like to hit EPCOT WS on arrival night and eat/shop/explore and watch Illuminations.

 

[Lanie]

We once went to DHS on arrival day for Fantasmic only... I'm so excited when I get to WDW that I can't relax, I HAVE to be in a park that moment!!!!!

Drives my hubby nuts!

 

[itchin2go]

No, generally, if we can't get there by rope drop (or very soon thereafter), it's a waste of a park ticket for me. Also, we're usually worn out on arrival day ... better to have a leisurely dinner, go to bed early and wake up ready to GO.

To be fair though, I've never had a 10 day ticket. We're usually looking at 5 or 6 days so I'd be less likely to want to "burn" a ticket on a partial day ... especially arriving JUST as the crowds are starting to get bad.

 

[tnolan]

We used to go to MK upon arrival and stay till closing, but that didn't work, because my husband was exhausted the whole rest of the stay then for some reason. So now, we just go to MK for lunch and a ride on one of my favorite rides, Haunted Mansion, then back to the hotel for the rest of the day. It works out much better for both of us.

 

[karly05]

I've been getting to the resort between about 2:30 and 3 pm, and once I'm checked in and have dumped my stuff, I head to Epcot to eat! I don't stay out late, but no way am I going all the way to WDW and not hitting a park right away!

If I had a short trip, I would be even more likely to head straight to a park. Gotta use what little time you have!

 

[Simba's Mom]

No -- we used to go to dtd growing up now with kids of my own we just relax in the room, walk around resort, have meal in food court -- very low key so we can rest before our adventure begins the next day

That's like us-we never go to the parks on arrival day, just "chill" around the resort. Although we get to the resort around 2:00, we have to take the first flight out of home at 5:30 am to get there then. So we're already pretty tired. When we were younger we often went to the parks, but as 2 retirees, that's a long day! Also, one time our flight was delayed and delayed, so it was almost super time before we even got to the resort. Sitting on the balcony or around the pool is about as far as we go!